March 7, 2024 • 12 mins
ESPN Texans reporter DJ Bien-Aime joins The A-Team to talk their most recent re-signing. Plus, what could be ahead for them next week, when NFL free agency opens.
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Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
And US promised our guest ESPN TexansBeat reporter DJ b Enemy joining us for
a little free agency combine and justgeneral Texans discussion. Boy, what a
difference a year makes, DJ,and I know that you're probably it's okay
to say this, by the way, it's just us friends. You're probably
enjoying covering this team a whole lotmore than you did a year ago at
(00:20):
this time. Yeah, for sure, around this time we are debating like
whether they were going to sign JimmyGarofolo and possibly passed up on a quarterback
in the draft, and like waitcome next year to possibly get one of
the quarterbacks. So I'm very gladthat we don't have to search that because
nothing about that it is ever fun. Well, the Texans have taken this
(00:43):
opportunity to bring Dalton Schultz back ona three year extension, bring Kymie fairbaanh
back on a three year extension,both before the free agency period opens.
There are several other players that arestill become free agents. They did not
use the franchise tax. I'll startthere, was it any surprise to you
that the franchise tag was not usedon anybody, or more specifically on John
(01:03):
Bernard and to him specifically, wheredo you think things stand with he and
his representation and the Texans? Yeah, no, I think regarding I wasn't
surprised. I think as the timeyou get closer and closer, itter just
didn't sound like like the market thatJohn the Gernard can possibly get. Obviously,
(01:25):
I think it's like over twenty pernot where that where that that twenty
years from between one and fourth whateverthat is. But it's clear that the
Texans probably aren't willing to go thathigh because they would then they would at
least franchise tag him and at leastthey're not exclusive, right, So,
like they weren't even willing to takethat risk in that regard of paying him,
(01:49):
having to how the cap get hitimmediately, you know, your salary
goes from like sixty something to likea fifteen forty something. They weren't even
willing to take that risk to posiblyget a player back gonna pick back.
So it's pretty clear. I don'tI don't want to say are heading for
the words because that's pretty strong,but it's not necessarily it's not just necessary,
(02:09):
like it's like sifty fifty I love, it's like City fifty our curry
back our cool walk, right,Like they've already kind of like talked to
other possible defensive endg just in casekind of engage on my kid to see
if they could possibly find somebody elsethat could give you similar production. Right.
So yeah, it's an interesting propositionbecause this was your best pass rusher
(02:34):
last year, but maybe you thinkit was more stematics and maybe you think
that you know where and it isgonna take a massive weep and they could
just shure up the interior defensive wantI add more than interior because of where
there's getting a guy at Christian Wilkins. We just draft somebody to replace Gnard,
then you could probably have maybe ifthey get a higher ceiling. So
I think that's kind of where they'reyou know, centering in that regard.
(02:57):
But it's uh me. I wouldjust resigned h maybe because when he plays
you one of the more distrust disruptifulguys in the league. But again,
like you know, I'm not Nickcod Saim Demko, so I can't make
that final call. Well, youyou talked about something that we kind of
mentioned last hour, which is continuityand how important that can be, especially
(03:22):
with offensive lines. You hear thata lot, but I just think across
the board when you've started really makinga stark contrast as far as the turnaround
goes from the culture and everything elsethat the Texans were just a short time
ago, you know, that's importantin that vein. How much do you
think Demico and the type of coachhe is and the fact that he's a
(03:42):
you know, quote unquote defensive guyfactors into this particular decision. That's a
good question. I think, obviouslyask the fact there's some some bit,
but I don't I don't assarily thinkit's like the continuity. Uh, that's
kind of little. I don't wantto say as with Loan, but think
about it was like last year,like they brought basically brought in Rankings,
(04:03):
will Play cash and way more play. Christian Harris way More brought it up
in the UH and then brought inJimmy Waris. They basically like five to
six starters at linebacker last year,and it went from the twenty seven scoring
defense to line twenty four points pergame to the eleven Franks scoring defense.
So I don't think continuity is thatimportant in this regard. If you feel
(04:29):
like you can up get a typeof upgrade that can take you to a
higher height because you know, youknow, with the whole you know,
I've had discussion on a lot ofpeople. Yeah, you know, I
have some former college teams that aretexting fans and so people have you know,
follow Texans on a looser lens,and if people talking about this whole
take on Barkley stuff like, I'mlike, okay, like, but that
(04:51):
doesn't necessarily make you get you closerto beating the Buffalo Bills or beating up
Baltimore Ravens are beaten the Fancy,the Chiefs, even beating the Bengals in
the playoffs, right, because youknow that that is kind of the feman
of crop in that aspect. Granted, yeah, like they beat the Bengals
and another season game, but that'sa very chusing game. We're talking about
beating that, beating teams at theirbest at the end of the season,
(05:13):
you know, and a running backis necessarily get you there. But adding
a guy that possibly Christian Wilkins,who can be very disruptive up the middle,
can really cause havoc. And there'sbeen a Star Wars Forlida Miami Dolphins
over the past few years and youshouldn't draft somebody. Now you're getting like
a guy that's like, for surethe top ten at his position, along
(05:35):
with getting you know, a guythat can get a rookie cost effective contract
in that regard. So I don'tnecessarily think continuity is that important in terms
of because the continuity, you know, it kind of got you know,
kind of got you worked in thatdivision around not just the continuity, but
like those same guys kind of playeda part in getting you kind of like
(05:55):
whop against the Ravens, and it'sabout getting closer to them now. I
think we can keep a guy likeNard. But I don't actually think cotton
neuity is the driving chapter. Ithink it's the most talent that you could
possibly have to go get to PatrickMahomes, the Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson.
So that's kind of where I lieon that. In terms of the
continuity, I don't think it's thatimportant. Talk with DJB enemy ESPN Texas
(06:16):
Beat Reporter, what would be yourbest guests on how things lay out in
the backfield next year? Devin Singletary'sa free agents a crop of running back
free agents. You mentioned sakuon Barkleyis pretty stout. Damian Pierce is heading
into year three of his rookie contractand meant very little to their running game
last year, and obviously the draftis upcoming. What do you think their
plans are to outfit the running backposition. That's just a great question.
(06:41):
They can go two routs, rightlike me personally, I re signed Devin
in the draft somebody. But youknow, there's been some reports and there's
been some some buzz that they stillhave just signed two running backs. I
don't think that. I don't thinkDamien is really much in the future.
I think the way they use themdown the stretch of last year kind of
like signified that he was deady gettingnot touched but snaps. So I think,
you know it kind of like Idon't want to say the book is
(07:03):
written on Damien because he always turnedthe round. But they are not operating
like an organization that wants that isgoing to teacher Damian games about to re
earn that, And I don't thinkthey're going to sit around and wait on
to like hope for Danian to popagain. I think they're kind of the
at least really some like legitimate,viable competition across the board, whether it
(07:27):
be a draft pick, it'd beyou know, resigned out of cl they
want to resign motors really going tojust come down to like what the number
is, but they want to resignmotors. Not Mortar is going to have
a crazy market, you know.And I think More is a good player.
But you mentioned like with the runningback market being what it is,
right Like, I think what couldhelp the Texans is the fact that there's
so many good running backs. Youwant to get a real next things As
(07:49):
so many get running back available,it's going to stress the market, right
Like, teams don't want to paytwelve thirteen, fourteen million dollars in an
open market anyway. But the factthat you have Barkley, you have Handsley,
you have Josh Jacobs, you haveI said, I miss John J.
Swift, Like that's all Austin Ekleerwell, even as not good.
(08:09):
But that's gonna suppress the market inthe sense of like because there's just so
many options that it's going to andthere's not enough teams that are just going
to uh in a sense to makeguys market go down a little bit in
terms of how much money they canget on open market. So I think
I think Devin will be back aslong they don't come with like a dumb
offer. But I do think they'llbe back, And me personality, just
(08:31):
go in the draft, like youyou're gonna find it. You're gonna find
a running back that can be deductive, like it's been proving time and time
and time and time again. I'mvery much on the side of do not
play running back to the free agencyand legitimate money because once they go downhill,
that's kind of it. They can'twant to show us times of regression
at older age that kind of hit. So me personally, I would just
(08:54):
drafted. I mean, I woulddraft somebody and we signed them the single
player, but they don't want tobring in two guys around the same price.
I'm good with that, right becauseyou kind of saw that with the
Detroit Lions. Granted it's a littledifferent. They use the first round pick
Are Gibbs, but they also signedDavid Montgomery to give you that kind of
that that under enlightening. But youknow, whatever it takes to get to
(09:16):
that, I'm all for it.Yeah, I do like the philosophy and
on probably going with to last thingfor you. I'm curious, you're sure
what you've been hearing and how you'rereading between the lines on things. How
serious do you think, Nick CasserioTamiko the team are about reaching a contract
extension with Nico Collins this offseason beforehe heads into the final year, the
(09:37):
fourth year of his rookie contract.I think I think somewhat serious. I
think then for sure that's not clear. They wait, right, I've seen
a report from Diane who seen methat a Mont Brown's gonna be twenty eight
million. Now, granted, likea man, Brown's more accomplished, right,
but if you wait again, hisagent is you Rosenhaus. His agent
(10:01):
is this guy that got tired ofhial his deal, right like you?
One thing we know, for Juwrote about Juroza. He's going to get
his guys his money, their money. So the longer you wait, because
unless Nico gets hurt, there's noway he doesn't replicate what he did last
year. Like I know, there'sbeen some talking like Texas Twitter that Nico
isn't the one, he's one hundredand fifty percent the one. I don't
(10:24):
know where people get this notion thatlike he it was a flu he wasn't
the one, like he's most definitelythe one. He's not, if you
want to say, Tanks the onecool, but it's like he tak as
a one D to Nico's one Alike seeing we saw what Nico did with
CJ when there was no tennt andhe went absolutely crazy. He went for
a buck ninety twice against the Coltswith the season on the line and against
(10:50):
the Broncos, who are red hotand had been limiting guys left and right
because a couple of weeks prior togoing against Niko, the Broncos cometely raced
Steph On Diggs on Monday Night Football. So it's you know, Niko is
a number one wide receiver. Ithink the sooner they can get something done,
the better because the longer you wait, the price is only going to
(11:13):
go up because there's no reason toexpect that Niko isn't going to be able
to get you thirteen hundred yards.He basically got thirteen hundred yards in fifteen
games and tools that we played withcase Keenum where he basically didn't do anything.
But that's because no idea anything onthose offenses those games. So yeah,
no, I'm yeah, no,I'm I'm I'm totally on board with
extending Nico. Get that done soonerthan later, because the longer you wait,
(11:37):
the more is going to go up. I mean, I don't know
if the text want to be ina position where they're paying Niko thirty million
dollars thirty million dollars at average salary, because he won't make thirty million per
year, but he'll make that theaverage, you know, could be that
the longer you wait, And yeah, I think so. I think the
tidingshead of that, and I expectthe talks to can to start, especially
(12:01):
in the offseason. Now if ifthey want to wait, you know,
that's on them. It's only gonnacost them more. And then now you
know, if you don't want topay that, then you're gonna have to
find his replacement, which is onlygoing to hurt easier. It's a lot
of what our listeners have heard mesaying. I'll have to say that right
here that I think I don't needto see more from Nico. I know
what Nico as I think last yearis enough for me to say that's what
he's going to be in this offensewith this quarterback. And I'm totally on
(12:24):
board with what you just said therein the analysis of what they should do
instead of waiting to do a DJ, really appreciate the time long time coming,
should have had you on long ago, and hope to soon. No
problem, No problem,
And US promised our guest ESPN TexansBeat reporter DJ b Enemy joining us for
a little free agency combine and justgeneral Texans discussion. Boy, what a
difference a year makes, DJ,and I know that you're probably it's okay
to say this, by the way, it's just us friends. You're probably
enjoying covering this team a whole lotmore than you did a year ago at
(00:20):
this time. Yeah, for sure, around this time we are debating like
whether they were going to sign JimmyGarofolo and possibly passed up on a quarterback
in the draft, and like waitcome next year to possibly get one of
the quarterbacks. So I'm very gladthat we don't have to search that because
nothing about that it is ever fun. Well, the Texans have taken this
(00:43):
opportunity to bring Dalton Schultz back ona three year extension, bring Kymie fairbaanh
back on a three year extension,both before the free agency period opens.
There are several other players that arestill become free agents. They did not
use the franchise tax. I'll startthere, was it any surprise to you
that the franchise tag was not usedon anybody, or more specifically on John
(01:03):
Bernard and to him specifically, wheredo you think things stand with he and
his representation and the Texans? Yeah, no, I think regarding I wasn't
surprised. I think as the timeyou get closer and closer, itter just
didn't sound like like the market thatJohn the Gernard can possibly get. Obviously,
(01:25):
I think it's like over twenty pernot where that where that that twenty
years from between one and fourth whateverthat is. But it's clear that the
Texans probably aren't willing to go thathigh because they would then they would at
least franchise tag him and at leastthey're not exclusive, right, So,
like they weren't even willing to takethat risk in that regard of paying him,
(01:49):
having to how the cap get hitimmediately, you know, your salary
goes from like sixty something to likea fifteen forty something. They weren't even
willing to take that risk to posiblyget a player back gonna pick back.
So it's pretty clear. I don'tI don't want to say are heading for
the words because that's pretty strong,but it's not necessarily it's not just necessary,
(02:09):
like it's like sifty fifty I love, it's like City fifty our curry
back our cool walk, right,Like they've already kind of like talked to
other possible defensive endg just in casekind of engage on my kid to see
if they could possibly find somebody elsethat could give you similar production. Right.
So yeah, it's an interesting propositionbecause this was your best pass rusher
(02:34):
last year, but maybe you thinkit was more stematics and maybe you think
that you know where and it isgonna take a massive weep and they could
just shure up the interior defensive wantI add more than interior because of where
there's getting a guy at Christian Wilkins. We just draft somebody to replace Gnard,
then you could probably have maybe ifthey get a higher ceiling. So
I think that's kind of where they'reyou know, centering in that regard.
(02:57):
But it's uh me. I wouldjust resigned h maybe because when he plays
you one of the more distrust disruptifulguys in the league. But again,
like you know, I'm not Nickcod Saim Demko, so I can't make
that final call. Well, youyou talked about something that we kind of
mentioned last hour, which is continuityand how important that can be, especially
(03:22):
with offensive lines. You hear thata lot, but I just think across
the board when you've started really makinga stark contrast as far as the turnaround
goes from the culture and everything elsethat the Texans were just a short time
ago, you know, that's importantin that vein. How much do you
think Demico and the type of coachhe is and the fact that he's a
(03:42):
you know, quote unquote defensive guyfactors into this particular decision. That's a
good question. I think, obviouslyask the fact there's some some bit,
but I don't I don't assarily thinkit's like the continuity. Uh, that's
kind of little. I don't wantto say as with Loan, but think
about it was like last year,like they brought basically brought in Rankings,
(04:03):
will Play cash and way more play. Christian Harris way More brought it up
in the UH and then brought inJimmy Waris. They basically like five to
six starters at linebacker last year,and it went from the twenty seven scoring
defense to line twenty four points pergame to the eleven Franks scoring defense.
So I don't think continuity is thatimportant in this regard. If you feel
(04:29):
like you can up get a typeof upgrade that can take you to a
higher height because you know, youknow, with the whole you know,
I've had discussion on a lot ofpeople. Yeah, you know, I
have some former college teams that aretexting fans and so people have you know,
follow Texans on a looser lens,and if people talking about this whole
take on Barkley stuff like, I'mlike, okay, like, but that
(04:51):
doesn't necessarily make you get you closerto beating the Buffalo Bills or beating up
Baltimore Ravens are beaten the Fancy,the Chiefs, even beating the Bengals in
the playoffs, right, because youknow that that is kind of the feman
of crop in that aspect. Granted, yeah, like they beat the Bengals
and another season game, but that'sa very chusing game. We're talking about
beating that, beating teams at theirbest at the end of the season,
(05:13):
you know, and a running backis necessarily get you there. But adding
a guy that possibly Christian Wilkins,who can be very disruptive up the middle,
can really cause havoc. And there'sbeen a Star Wars Forlida Miami Dolphins
over the past few years and youshouldn't draft somebody. Now you're getting like
a guy that's like, for surethe top ten at his position, along
(05:35):
with getting you know, a guythat can get a rookie cost effective contract
in that regard. So I don'tnecessarily think continuity is that important in terms
of because the continuity, you know, it kind of got you know,
kind of got you worked in thatdivision around not just the continuity, but
like those same guys kind of playeda part in getting you kind of like
(05:55):
whop against the Ravens, and it'sabout getting closer to them now. I
think we can keep a guy likeNard. But I don't actually think cotton
neuity is the driving chapter. Ithink it's the most talent that you could
possibly have to go get to PatrickMahomes, the Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson.
So that's kind of where I lieon that. In terms of the
continuity, I don't think it's thatimportant. Talk with DJB enemy ESPN Texas
(06:16):
Beat Reporter, what would be yourbest guests on how things lay out in
the backfield next year? Devin Singletary'sa free agents a crop of running back
free agents. You mentioned sakuon Barkleyis pretty stout. Damian Pierce is heading
into year three of his rookie contractand meant very little to their running game
last year, and obviously the draftis upcoming. What do you think their
plans are to outfit the running backposition. That's just a great question.
(06:41):
They can go two routs, rightlike me personally, I re signed Devin
in the draft somebody. But youknow, there's been some reports and there's
been some some buzz that they stillhave just signed two running backs. I
don't think that. I don't thinkDamien is really much in the future.
I think the way they use themdown the stretch of last year kind of
like signified that he was deady gettingnot touched but snaps. So I think,
you know it kind of like Idon't want to say the book is
(07:03):
written on Damien because he always turnedthe round. But they are not operating
like an organization that wants that isgoing to teacher Damian games about to re
earn that, And I don't thinkthey're going to sit around and wait on
to like hope for Danian to popagain. I think they're kind of the
at least really some like legitimate,viable competition across the board, whether it
(07:27):
be a draft pick, it'd beyou know, resigned out of cl they
want to resign motors really going tojust come down to like what the number
is, but they want to resignmotors. Not Mortar is going to have
a crazy market, you know.And I think More is a good player.
But you mentioned like with the runningback market being what it is,
right Like, I think what couldhelp the Texans is the fact that there's
so many good running backs. Youwant to get a real next things As
(07:49):
so many get running back available,it's going to stress the market, right
Like, teams don't want to paytwelve thirteen, fourteen million dollars in an
open market anyway. But the factthat you have Barkley, you have Handsley,
you have Josh Jacobs, you haveI said, I miss John J.
Swift, Like that's all Austin Ekleerwell, even as not good.
(08:09):
But that's gonna suppress the market inthe sense of like because there's just so
many options that it's going to andthere's not enough teams that are just going
to uh in a sense to makeguys market go down a little bit in
terms of how much money they canget on open market. So I think
I think Devin will be back aslong they don't come with like a dumb
offer. But I do think they'llbe back, And me personality, just
(08:31):
go in the draft, like youyou're gonna find it. You're gonna find
a running back that can be deductive, like it's been proving time and time
and time and time again. I'mvery much on the side of do not
play running back to the free agencyand legitimate money because once they go downhill,
that's kind of it. They can'twant to show us times of regression
at older age that kind of hit. So me personally, I would just
(08:54):
drafted. I mean, I woulddraft somebody and we signed them the single
player, but they don't want tobring in two guys around the same price.
I'm good with that, right becauseyou kind of saw that with the
Detroit Lions. Granted it's a littledifferent. They use the first round pick
Are Gibbs, but they also signedDavid Montgomery to give you that kind of
that that under enlightening. But youknow, whatever it takes to get to
(09:16):
that, I'm all for it.Yeah, I do like the philosophy and
on probably going with to last thingfor you. I'm curious, you're sure
what you've been hearing and how you'rereading between the lines on things. How
serious do you think, Nick CasserioTamiko the team are about reaching a contract
extension with Nico Collins this offseason beforehe heads into the final year, the
(09:37):
fourth year of his rookie contract.I think I think somewhat serious. I
think then for sure that's not clear. They wait, right, I've seen
a report from Diane who seen methat a Mont Brown's gonna be twenty eight
million. Now, granted, likea man, Brown's more accomplished, right,
but if you wait again, hisagent is you Rosenhaus. His agent
(10:01):
is this guy that got tired ofhial his deal, right like you?
One thing we know, for Juwrote about Juroza. He's going to get
his guys his money, their money. So the longer you wait, because
unless Nico gets hurt, there's noway he doesn't replicate what he did last
year. Like I know, there'sbeen some talking like Texas Twitter that Nico
isn't the one, he's one hundredand fifty percent the one. I don't
(10:24):
know where people get this notion thatlike he it was a flu he wasn't
the one, like he's most definitelythe one. He's not, if you
want to say, Tanks the onecool, but it's like he tak as
a one D to Nico's one Alike seeing we saw what Nico did with
CJ when there was no tennt andhe went absolutely crazy. He went for
a buck ninety twice against the Coltswith the season on the line and against
(10:50):
the Broncos, who are red hotand had been limiting guys left and right
because a couple of weeks prior togoing against Niko, the Broncos cometely raced
Steph On Diggs on Monday Night Football. So it's you know, Niko is
a number one wide receiver. Ithink the sooner they can get something done,
the better because the longer you wait, the price is only going to
(11:13):
go up because there's no reason toexpect that Niko isn't going to be able
to get you thirteen hundred yards.He basically got thirteen hundred yards in fifteen
games and tools that we played withcase Keenum where he basically didn't do anything.
But that's because no idea anything onthose offenses those games. So yeah,
no, I'm yeah, no,I'm I'm I'm totally on board with
extending Nico. Get that done soonerthan later, because the longer you wait,
(11:37):
the more is going to go up. I mean, I don't know
if the text want to be ina position where they're paying Niko thirty million
dollars thirty million dollars at average salary, because he won't make thirty million per
year, but he'll make that theaverage, you know, could be that
the longer you wait, And yeah, I think so. I think the
tidingshead of that, and I expectthe talks to can to start, especially
(12:01):
in the offseason. Now if ifthey want to wait, you know,
that's on them. It's only gonnacost them more. And then now you
know, if you don't want topay that, then you're gonna have to
find his replacement, which is onlygoing to hurt easier. It's a lot
of what our listeners have heard mesaying. I'll have to say that right
here that I think I don't needto see more from Nico. I know
what Nico as I think last yearis enough for me to say that's what
he's going to be in this offensewith this quarterback. And I'm totally on
(12:24):
board with what you just said therein the analysis of what they should do
instead of waiting to do a DJ, really appreciate the time long time coming,
should have had you on long ago, and hope to soon. No
problem, No problem,
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